The Highwaymen - The Devil's Right Hand

Today's the Blogshoot, which means fun, and fellowship, and loud noises.  Country music does that combination really well, actually, and nobody does it better than The Highwaymen.

Not many groups had that much talent - Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings.  It was called a "supergroup", which quite frankly is damning with faint praise.

But when it came to making loud noises, they excelled.  Between 1985 and 1995, they did a lot of great music.  Lots of it was covers of other people's songs - a bit odd, really, considering just how much songwriting talent was in the group.

Today's song is a cover of Steve Earle's great song about what happens to a young boy when he first casts his gaze on a pistol.  I don't know that I'd go so far as Earle, but at the Blogshoot later today I'm fixin to try out the Devil's Right Hand.  Likely I'll think about tryin' his Left Hand (say, something commie, like a Tokarev) too.

Let's get loud.



The Devil's Right Hand (Songwriter: Steve Earle)

About the time that daddy left to fight the big war
I saw my first pistol in the general store
In the general store,when i was thirteen
Thought it was the finest thing i ever had seen

So i asked if i could have one some day when i grew up
Mama dropped a dozen eggs,she really blew up
She really blew up and i didn't understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

The devil's right hand,the devil's right hand
Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

My very first pistol was a cap and ball colt
Shoots as fast as lightin' but it loads a mighty slow
Loads a mighty slow and soon i found out
It can get you into trouble but it can't get you out

So then i went and bought myself a colt 45
Called a peacemaker but i never knew why
Never knew why,i didn't understand
'Cause Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

(Image source)